Chiefs mount stunning fightback against the Bulls
Defending champions score three tries in last 10 minutes to snatch thrilling 34-34 draw at Loftus Versfeld
Two-time Super Rugby defending champions Chiefs scored three tries in the last 10 minutes and kicked a touchline conversion after the hooter for a thrilling 34-34 draw against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday, while the Reds returned home to Brisbane and gave their fans a 22-17 win against Western Stormers.
The Chiefs scored five tries and led 12-3 early before surrendering control of the game and trailing the Bulls 31-15.
Replacement Gareth Anscombe rounded off a brilliant 70-metre score for the Chiefs in the 70th minute, lock Matt Symons scored in the 77th and captain Aaron Cruden squeezed over in the corner with around 10 seconds to play after another long-range counter from the New Zealand team.
We were very disappointed with the way we finished up our South African tour so it was important to come back [to Brisbane] in front of our fans and get a win
Anscombe kicked the conversion from the left touchline to silence the Loftus Versfeld crowd.
The Bulls tries came from Deon Stegmann, Bjorn Basson and a penalty try.
The Bulls controlled the territory, scrums and lineouts for most of the game before slipping up against the Chief's elusive counter-attacking to halt the South African team's streak of three straight wins.
For the Hamilton-based Chiefs, it was a welcome return to form after a surprise loss to the Western Force in Perth last weekend.
In Brisbane, Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper kicked the Queensland Reds to a slogging 22-17 win over South Africa's Western Stormers.